Inappropriate waste disposal in Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park (NZ); potential problems, practical solutions and visitor perceptions.
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Inappropriate waste disposal in Aoraki/
Mount Cook National Park (NZ);
potential problems, practical solutions
and visitor perceptions.
Geographic setting - ‘the jewel of the NZ landscape’ ““There are some areas in the Park which are not very pretty. At the end of the summer season when all the snow has melted, all that mountaineers have left behind comes to the surface, rubbish, left over food (placed in the snow for cold storage), toilet waste, the lot!” (Gottlieb Braun-Elwert, 2006 pers. com).
The onslaught of numbers…
part of the solution - ‘the poo pot’ “I have to admit buy-in for the initiative has been marginal at best” (VanderSpek, 2005, pers. Com).
The ‘knowledge experts’
Who are the knowledge experts • 57% male; 43% being female (n = 138 including interviews), • 38% between 20 – 30yrs of age, • 27% from New Zealand, • 38% response rate from questionnaires left at huts, • 88% of respondents planned to be in the park less than a week.
countries of residence
Overview of results • Compliance with DoC’s ECC is poor. • While their was awareness of not disposing of waste next to huts, camps and water supplies – few had a notion of the practicalities in an alpine setting. • Some respondents indicated that human waste in the alpine is natural and degrades. • There was an unexpectedly high response in the support of the pots (but only 26% had heard of them). • I uncovered some of the reason why users objected to the use of pots - so that park managers can increase ‘buy-in’.
‘poo pots’
Opinions of the poo pots Suggestions for improvement
#2 – Barron Saddle Hut “I think the pots could be made more secure. Also I think they could
“I used the poo pot for the first time in NZ. I had not heard of it before. provide latex gloves and alcohol hand wash for hygiene
I think this is a great idea to reduce the amount of human waste purposes”.
in the alpine environment. But I think one toilet per hut is
necessary as well”. (Germany)
#1- Barron Saddle Hut “Provide specific information on their use, why? Etc. Maybe different
“They do the job. However, I am not sure if people are likely to carry sizes for days in the Park and a map labeling where users are
their human waste for more then a day? Especially considering able to discard their starch bags with waste in hut facilities. I
the pots are not really suited to size for a week or so also suggest a more robust container”.
travel!” (Germany)
# 1 De la Beche Hut “Due to the size of the pot required to carry human waste and the
“I am enthused about the new poo pot concept, which is inline with limitation of space and weight that constraints climbers, this pot
my leave only footprints philosophy. However, I am worried seem to be a good compromise. However, what about providing
about the durability of the container and the potential for a a more studier container such as a Nalgene bottle like they do
catastrophic failure of the pot in my bag!” (Australia) in Yosemite National Park, USA?”
# 2 De la Beche Hut “Make them more bomb proof (i.e, leak/burst proof).”
“Great idea, but they are not very bomb proof!”. (New Zealand)
# 9 Plateau Hut “They could be more rigid in design. I would be a bit worried about
“Great idea” (Canada) hygiene also, lucky I had some alcohol hand wash, this kit could
be provided?”.
# 5 Kelman Hut “I think that these containers should be provided when climbers sign
“These are a great idea for heavily used routes, good for use on route in with DOC. This will ensure that all responsible climbers are
and small camps” (New Zealand) provided with them. Check out the WAG bag option that certain
USA national parks implement”.results cont,
• 58% outlined that there is a general lack of information regarding
human waste disposal in the park. E.g.,
• “A brochure could be part of the instruction leaflet of best practice in
the Park. It should be mandatory, you get your instruction booklet
when you pay your hut fees and it outlines what is expected of you
during your stay in the Park. For example: O.K. you are going to
Mueller Hut, read this, this is what is expected of you, it’s part of our
policy”. Both in USA and Canada, this is the norm” (Braun-Elwert,
Mountain Guide, 2005, pers. com).
• “A brochure outlining what is expected of the Park’s casual user
would be a great start. Outlining the tōpuni area would be great on
the map of the brochure for example. I wasn’t aware of the area, nor
the implications waste have on cultural associations Māori have with
the area” (Knott, Mountaineer, 2006, pers. com).LAC & Adaptive Management
1. Establish prescriptive management objectives
(Outcome based).
Phase One: Steps 1- 4 are finding 2. Select indicators of resource and social
out about complex situations:- conditions
Accessing information and
knowledge and community dialogue
3. Specify standards for indicators
Phase 1 + 2 =
4. Monitor conditions
effective learning
environment. Informal / Formal-
quantitative and /or qualitative
Continual
Feedback
5. Compare conditions to standards
(Information capture and dissemination)
Phase Two: Steps 5 – 8
taking action to
improve situation
6a. Standards exceeded 6b. Standards exceeded
(Yes) (No)
7. Evaluate and identify causal factors
8. Select and implement management
options
Diagram illustrating an adaptive management model utilising contemporary LAC planning framework
(adapted from Marion & Reid, 2004).Where to from here?
Thanks.. www.garrard.co.nz
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